Investor Relations
News Release

IRVINE, Calif., May 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Habit Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ:HABT) (“The Habit” or the “Company”), today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 27, 2018.

Highlights for the first quarter ended March 27, 2018 include:

Total revenue increased 17.0% to $91.9 million compared to $78.6 million in the first quarter of 2017.

Company-operated comparable restaurant sales decreased 1.4% as compared to the first quarter of 2017.

Net income was $0.7 million, or $0.03 per diluted weighted average share, compared to $1.8 million, or $0.09 per diluted weighted average share, in the first quarter of 2017.

Adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income(1) was $0.2 million, or $0.01 per fully distributed weighted average share compared to $2.4 million, or $0.09 per fully distributed weighted average share for the first quarter of 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $7.9 million compared to $9.4 million for the first quarter of 2017.

The Company opened 11 new company-operated restaurants and two franchised restaurants during the first quarter of 2018. As of March 27, 2018, the Company had 204 company-operated locations and 18 franchised/licensed locations (excluding seven licensed locations in Santa Barbara County, California from which the Company is not entitled to royalties) for a system-wide total of 222 locations.

(1) Adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. A reconciliation of GAAP net income to each of these measures is included in the accompanying financial data. See also “Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” included herein.

“While our first quarter results were below our expectations we are excited about the progress being made around making The Habit even more convenient for our customers as well as the progress on initiatives which are focused on menu and marketing innovation,” said Russ Bendel, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Habit Restaurants, Inc. “During the quarter, we opened 11 new company-operated Habit Burger Grills of which four were drive-thrus, and opened two franchised restaurants. We continue to plan to open a total of approximately 30 new company-operated locations in 2018, including approximately 15 drive-thru locations, while our franchisees expect to open six to eight locations in 2018.”

First Quarter 2018 Financial Results Compared to First Quarter 2017

Total revenue was $91.9 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared to $78.6 million in the first quarter of 2017.

Company-operated comparable restaurant sales decreased 1.4% for the quarter ended March 27, 2018. The decrease in company-operated comparable restaurant sales was driven primarily by a 2.1% decrease in transactions partially offset by a 0.7% increase in average transaction amount.

Net income for the first quarter of 2018 was $0.7 million, or $0.03 per diluted weighted average share, compared to $1.8 million, or $0.09 per diluted weighted average share in the first quarter of 2017.

Adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income in the first quarter of 2018 was $0.2 million, or $0.01 per fully distributed weighted average share, compared to $2.4 million, or $0.09 per fully distributed weighted average share, in the first quarter of 2017. A reconciliation between GAAP net income and adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income is included in the accompanying financial data.

2018 Outlook

The Company currently anticipates the following for its fiscal year 2018:

Total revenue between $389 million to $393 million;

Company-operated comparable restaurant sales approximately flat for the year;

The opening of approximately 30 company-operated restaurants and six to eight franchised/licensed restaurants;

Restaurant contribution margin of 16.0% to 17.0%;

General and administrative expenses of $37.5 million to $38.0 million;

Depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $24.0 million;

Capital expenditures of $43.0 million to $46.0 million; and

An effective pro forma tax rate of approximately 32.5%, which assumes the conversion of all common units of The Habit Restaurants, LLC for shares of the Company’s Class A common stock (and cancellation of corresponding shares of Class B common stock), which would eliminate the non-controlling interests.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss financial results for the first quarter 2018 today at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. Russ Bendel, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Ira Fils, Chief Financial Officer will host the call.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (855) 327-6837 or for international callers by dialing (778) 327-3988. A replay will be available after the call and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921 or for international callers by dialing (412) 317-6671; the passcode is 10004556. The replay will be available until Wednesday, May 9, 2018. The conference call will also be webcast live from the Company’s corporate website at ir.habitburger.com under the “Events” page. An archive of the webcast will be available at the same location on the corporate website shortly after the call has concluded.

The following definitions apply to these terms as used in this release:

Comparable restaurant sales reflect the change in year-over-year sales in our comparable restaurant base. A restaurant enters our comparable restaurant base in the accounting period following its 18th full period of operations. We operate on a 4-4-5 calendar, each accounting period will consist of either four or five weeks with the exception of a 53-week year, where the last period contains six weeks.

Average Unit Volumes (AUVs) are calculated by dividing revenue for the trailing 52-week period for all company-operated restaurants that have operated for 12 full accounting periods by the total number of restaurants open for such period.

Adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income includes net income attributable to The Habit (i) excluding income tax expense, (ii) excluding the effect of non-recurring items, (iii) assuming the exchange of all common units of The Habit Restaurants, LLC into shares of our Class A common stock (and cancellation of corresponding shares of our Class B common stock), which results in the elimination of non-controlling interests in The Habit Restaurants, LLC, and (iv) reflecting an adjustment for income tax expense on fully distributed pro forma net income before income taxes at our estimated long term effective income tax rate. Adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income is a non-GAAP financial measure because it represents net income attributable to The Habit, before non-recurring items and the effects of non-controlling interests in The Habit Restaurants, LLC. We use adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income to facilitate a comparison of our operating performance on a consistent basis from period to period that, when viewed in combination with our results prepared in accordance with GAAP, provides a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business than GAAP measures alone and eliminates the variability of non-controlling interests as a result of member owner exchanges of common units of The Habit Restaurants, LLC into shares of our Class A common stock (and cancellation of corresponding shares of our Class B common stock).

Adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income per fully distributed weighted average share is calculated using adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income as defined above and assumes the exchange of all common units of The Habit Restaurants, LLC into shares of our Class A common stock (and cancellation of corresponding shares of our Class B common stock).

EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, represents net income before interest expense, net, provision for income taxes, and depreciation and amortization.

The Habit Burger Grill is a burger-centric, fast casual restaurant concept that specializes in preparing fresh, made-to-order chargrilled burgers and sandwiches featuring USDA choice tri-tip steak, grilled chicken and sushi-grade tuna cooked over an open flame. In addition, it features fresh made-to-order salads and an appealing selection of sides, shakes and malts. The Habit was named the “best tasting burger in America” in July 2014 in a comprehensive survey conducted by one of America’s leading consumer magazines. The first Habit opened in Santa Barbara, California in 1969. The Habit has since grown to over 225 restaurants in 11 states throughout California, Arizona, Utah, New Jersey, Florida, Idaho, Virginia, Nevada, Washington, Maryland and Pennsylvania, as well as four international locations.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements discuss our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. You can identify forward-looking statements because they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “potential,” “project,” “projection,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “should,” “can,” “can have,” “likely,” the negatives thereof and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. They appear in a number of places throughout this press release and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which we operate. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected.

While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this press release in the context of the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2017, including the sections thereof captioned “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors.” These filings and others are available online at www.sec.gov, ir.habitburger.com or upon request from The Habit.

We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not contain all of the factors that are important to you. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences we anticipate or affect us or our operations in the ways that we expect. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, we use non-GAAP financial measures, including those discussed above. These measures are not intended to be considered in isolation or as substitutes for, or superior to, financial measures prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. We use non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. We believe that they provide useful information about operating results, enhance understanding of past performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making. However, when analyzing the Company’s operating performance, investors should not consider adjusted earnings per fully distributed weighted average share or adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income in isolation or as substitutes for net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities or other operation statement or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP measures used in this press release may be different from the measures used by other companies.

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data (unaudited):

Our operating results are presented as a percentage of total revenue, with the exception of restaurant operating costs, depreciation and amortization expense, pre-opening costs and loss on disposal of assets, which are presented as a percentage of restaurant revenue.

13 Weeks Ended

(amounts in thousands except share and per share data)

March 27, 2018

March 28, 2017(1)

Revenue

Restaurant revenue

$

91,529

99.5

%

$

78,307

99.6

%

Franchise/license revenue

419

0.5

%

284

0.4

%

Total revenue

91,948

100

%

78,591

100

%

Operating expenses

Restaurant operating costs (excluding depreciation and amortization)

Food and paper costs

27,935

30.5

%

22,837

29.2

%

Labor and related expenses

31,953

34.9

%

25,983

33.2

%

Occupancy and other operating expenses

15,937

17.4

%

13,075

16.7

%

General and administrative expenses

8,912

9.7

%

7,763

9.9

%

Exchange related expenses

130

0.1

%

116

0.1

%

Depreciation and amortization expense

5,582

6.1

%

4,249

5.4

%

Pre-opening costs

1,080

1.2

%

395

0.5

%

Loss on disposal of assets

12

0

%

12

0

%

Total operating expenses

91,541

99.6

%

74,430

94.7

%

Income from operations

407

0.4

%

4,161

5.3

%

Other expense

Tax Receivable Agreement liability adjustment

1,473

1.6

%

—

---

%

Interest expense, net

226

0.2

%

159

0.2

%

Income (loss) before income taxes

(1,292

)

(1.4

)%

4,002

5.1

%

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

(1,981

)

(2.2

)%

1,300

1.7

%

Net income

689

0.7

%

2,702

3.4

%

Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests

(35

)

(0.0

)%

(904

)

(1.2

)%

Net income attributable to The Habit Restaurants, Inc.

$

654

0.7

%

$

1,798

2.3

%

Net income attributable to The Habit Restaurants, Inc. per share Class A common stock:

Basic

$

0.03

$

0.09

Diluted

$

0.03

$

0.09

Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding:

Basic

20,439,253

20,188,687

Diluted

20,492,198

20,215,371

(1) As previously reported, the Company recognized a decrease in revenue of $45,000 for the first quarter ended March 28, 2017 as a result of the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

(c) As previously reported, the Company recognized a cumulative decrease in retained earnings of $0.4 million for fiscal year ended December 26, 2017 as a result of the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

13 Weeks Ended

Selected Operating Data

March 27, 2018

March 28, 2017

Other Operating Data:

Total restaurants at end of period

222

178

Company-operated restaurants at end of period

204

165

Company-operated comparable restaurant sales(a)

(1.4

)%

0.9

%

Company-operated average unit volumes

$

1,871

$

1,911

(a) Company-operated comparable restaurant sales reflect the change in year-over-year sales for the company-operated comparable restaurant base. A restaurant enters our comparable restaurant base in the accounting period following its 18th full period of operations.

The following table includes a reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA:

13 Weeks Ended

Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

March 27,

March 28,

2018

2017

(amounts in thousands)

Net income(a)

$

689

$

2,702

Non-GAAP adjustments:

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

(1,981

)

1,300

Interest expense, net

226

159

Depreciation and amortization

5,582

4,249

EBITDA

4,516

8,410

Stock-based compensation expense(b)

667

498

Loss on disposal of assets(c)

12

12

Pre-opening costs(d)

1,080

395

Tax Receivable Agreement liability adjustment(e)

1,473

—

Exchange related expenses(f)

130

116

Adjusted EBITDA

$

7,878

$

9,431

(a) As previously reported, the Company recognized a decrease in revenue of $45,000 for the first quarter ended March 28, 2017 as a result of the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

(b) Includes non-cash, stock-based compensation.

(c) Loss on disposal of assets includes the loss on disposal of assets related to retirements and replacements or write-off of leasehold improvements or equipment.

(d) Pre-opening costs consist of costs directly associated with the opening of new restaurants and incurred prior to opening, including management labor costs, staff labor costs during training, food and supplies used during training, marketing costs and other related pre-opening costs. These are generally incurred over the three to five months prior to opening. Pre-opening costs also include net occupancy costs incurred between the date of possession and opening date of our restaurants.

(e) In connection with our initial public offering (“IPO”) of shares of Class A common stock that occurred in fiscal year 2014, we entered into a tax receivable agreement (“TRA”). This agreement calls for us to pay to our pre-IPO stockholders 85% of the savings in cash that we realize in our taxes as a result of utilizing our net operating losses and other tax attributes attributable to preceding periods. This category includes adjustments associated with revisions to the expected TRA liability as a result of updated estimated future tax savings at the federal, state and local level.

(f) This category includes costs associated with the exchanges of common units of The Habit Restaurants, LLC (“LLC Units”) into shares of Class A common stock by members of The Habit Restaurants, LLC (the “Continuing LLC Owners”) pursuant to its Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2015, as amended on May 16, 2016, and further amended on March 22, 2017 (as amended, the “LLC Agreement”).

The following is a reconciliation of GAAP net income and net income per share to adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income and adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income per share:

13 Weeks Ended

(dollar amounts in thousands)

March 27,

March 28,

2018

2017

Net income(a)

$

689

$

2,702

Exchange related expenses(b)

130

116

Tax Receivable Agreement liability adjustment(c)

1,473

—

Income tax expense (benefit) as reported

(1,981

)

1,300

Fully distributed pro forma net income before income taxes

311

4,118

Income tax expense on fully distributed pro forma

101

1,689

income before income taxes(d)

Adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income

$

210

$

2,429

Adjusted fully distributed pro forma net income per share

of Class A common stock:

Basic

$

0.01

$

0.09

Diluted

$

0.01

$

0.09

Weighted average shares of Class A common stock

outstanding used in computing adjusted fully distributed

pro forma net income(e):

Basic

26,027,641

26,001,035

Diluted

26,080,586

26,027,719

(a) As previously reported, the Company recognized a decrease in revenue of $45,000 for the first quarter ended March 28, 2017 as a result of the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

(b) This category includes costs associated with the exchanges of LLC Units to Class A common stock by the Continuing LLC Owners pursuant to the LLC Agreement.

(c) In connection with our IPO, we entered into the TRA. This agreement calls for us to pay to our pre-IPO stockholders 85% of the savings in cash that we realize in our taxes as a result of utilizing our net operating losses and other tax attributes attributable to preceding periods. This category includes adjustments associated with revisions to the expected TRA liability as a result of updated estimated future tax savings at the federal, state and local level.

(d) Reflects income tax expense at an effective rate of 32.3% and 41.0% for the periods ended March 27, 2018 and March 28, 2017, respectively, on income before income taxes assuming the conversion of all outstanding LLC Units for shares of Class A common stock (with a corresponding cancellation of shares of our Class B common stock). The effective rate also excludes the impact of discrete items and reduced corporate tax rate due to tax law change. The estimated tax rate includes provisions for U.S. federal income taxes and assumes the highest statutory rates apportioned to each state and local jurisdiction.

(e) For all periods presented, represents the total number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding including all outstanding LLC Units of The Habit Restaurants, LLC as if they were exchanged on a one-for-one basis for the Company’s Class A common stock (with a corresponding cancellation of shares of our Class B common stock). Diluted earnings per share gives effect during the reporting period to all dilutive potential shares outstanding resulting from employee stock-based awards using the treasury method.